Judith Bell is comfortable with her quiet, predictable life. After a failed relationship left her emotionally—and physically— scarred, she tries her hardest to ignore Carlos Moreno’s advances. But the sexy, dark-eyed security chief is proving very hard to ignore. When fear and blackmail drives her to compromise her new position at Royal Courts, Judith’s serene life is once again disrupted.

Carlos is captivated by his boss’ assistant. Beyond her beauty is a sweet, gentle woman needing desperately to be loved. But when an internal investigation points to her, he realizes Judith may not be the innocent she appears. Left wondering if he’s been duped by a pretty face and bewitching smile, Carlos finds himself torn between his obligations to Royal Courts or protecting the woman who’s already stolen his heart.

On the run from her past and forced into hiding, Judith is faced with two choices—either let fear define her future or allow love to heal her wounded heart.

~Excerpt~

“Are you okay, muñeca?” he asked slowly.

She stared up at him, overwhelmed with despair. No, not really. The worry in his eyes was enough to have the lump return, but this time from profound guilt instead of panic.

Could she trust him?

It wasn’t worth the risk so instead she took a deep breath and simply nodded as she tried to formulate her thoughts and put them into coherent words this time.

“Yes, I’m fine,” Judith assured him with a wide smile. “I just…I got so busy today, I missed lunch and now can’t seem to think straight.”

At least that wasn’t a complete lie. There was no food in her stomach and no rational thought left in her brain—not enough anyway to have kept her fear at bay and stop her from making the biggest mistake of her life.

“You need to take better care of yourself,” Carlos said, concern still clouding his eyes. “Don’t let Carrone work you to the ground.”

Despite herself, she was warmed by the gentle reprimand. He cared.

“I’m fine, really. I just need to grab a few things, then I’m heading out soon.” She turned the door knob of the supply room as she spoke and to her dismay, found it locked. Glancing over at Carlos, she let out a weak laugh.

“I guess they’ve started locking these after hours,” she muttered, though it was something she wouldn’t know. In her three months at Royal Courts, she’d only been there once or twice.

With a grin, Carlos pulled out a set of keys. “The perks of working in security,” he said, quickly unlocking the door.

He pushed it open and she walked past him inside. Following her into the small, dim room, Carlos let the door closed behind him with a finality that was jarring.

Judith ended her quick search for the light switch and resigned herself to using the downlighting to navigate through the room. Rows of tall shelves lined the small space and she walked through the nearest one, looking for something suitable to carry out of there. But being isolated in the dark room with Carlos Moreno wasn’t helping matters.

“What are you looking for?” he asked, coming up behind her. “Maybe I can help.”

Her eyes fell on a stack of notepads and she reached for them. “Uh, I think I found it,” she said quickly.

Unfortunately, she missed the box of envelopes that were stacked right above them. When she jerked on the pack, they all threatened to come down on her head.

“Careful,” Carlos said sharply, reaching over her to catch the items.

He shoved the bundle of papers back into position and the action brought him firmly against her. His warm, well-muscled chest pressed solidly along her back. She wanted nothing more than to lean against him, to have him wrap his strong arms around her and hold her close.

“Nothing got you, did it?”

She shook her head, her face heating, grateful he’d saved her from that embarrassing mishap—and that he wasn’t a mind reader.

“No, I’m fine.”

She turned around, but he didn’t step back. They both stood there looking at each other. There was no way she could hide her attraction to him now. Not when he looked at her like that.

Stark desire blazed in his deep, penetrating eyes, but there was also a tenderness and affection in them that made something in her belly flutter.

He reached out and brushed his thumb slowly across her cheek. “What’s a good girl like you doing in a dirty mind like mine?”

Judith glanced away from his intense gaze. He’d obviously intended for it to be a joke, but with what she’d just done not too long ago, coupled with the slow throbbing between her legs just from his light touch, he was far from the truth.

Lena Hart is a Florida native currently living in the Harlem edge of New York City. Though she enjoys reading a variety of romance genres, she mainly writes sensual interracial romances with a flare of suspense and mystery. When Lena is not busy writing, she’s reading, researching, or conferring with her muse. To learn more about Lena and her work, visit LenaHartSite.com.